I'm really sorry to hear that. That must be very tough, and a big shock.
I'm not sure if this will help you, or help you feel better, or perhaps worse, but I'll throw it out there. Last year I read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Homers-Odyssey-Fe ... er+the+catIt's a pretty heart-warming tale. All cats are different and situations are different (e.g., her cat was blind from an extremely early age), but perhaps it is worth a look. The author also has a website:
http://www.gwencooper.com/living-with-a-blind-catPerhaps this is a good starting point. Good luck, I would love to learn how your cat progresses. Keep your chin up, don't give up, I think it can work out fine (easy for me to say as it is).